Method and apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted bale

ABSTRACT

Textile fiber formed as a compacted bale is loosened, stripped from the bale and rolled into a convolutely wound package in preparation for delivery for subsequent processing. Loosening, stripping and rolling are accomplished by compound motion of the tines of a rake, with the tines having relatively fast movement in a closed path of travel generally about a center of movement and with a lower reach in which the tines move in one direction and the rake having relatively slow movement in the one direction, such that repeated relatively quick strokes of the tines cooperate with the slower movement of the rake for stripping and rolling the textile fiber.

United States Patent 11 1 Whitehurst 1 1 Aug. 26, 1975 [75] Inventor:Marcus G. Whitehurst, Gastonia,

[73] Assignee: Piedmont American Corporation, Gastonia, NC.

221 Filed: Oct. 24, 1973 21 1. App]. No.: 409,056

Primary E.raminerDorsey Newton Attorney, Ager rl, 0r FirmParrott, Bell,Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT Textile fiber formed as a compactedbale is loosened, stripped from the bale and rolled into a convolutelywound package in preparation for delivery for subsequent processing.Loosening, stripping and rolling are accomplished by compound motion ofthe tines of a rake, with the tines having relatively fast movement in aclosed path of travel generally about a center of movement and with alower reach in which the tines move in one direction and the rake havingrelatively slow movement in the one direction, such that repeatedrelatively quick strokes of the tines cooperate with the slower movementof the rake for stripping and rolling the textile fiber.

15 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAUGZS 1915 EQUI PNENT picking. Thesupply of fiber from compacted bales to these or similar process stepshas usually been accomplished manually. in that an operator is assignedthe task of manually removing fiber from compacted bales and deliveringthe fiber to chute feeds or the like by which the fiber is introducedinto the manufacturing process.

It has heretofore been proposed that the manual process of removingtextile fiber from a compacted bale and delivering the fiber forsubsequent processing be avoided by reliance upon mechanical means. Arange of such mechanical devices have been proposed but yet none hasbeen well received within the industry. Typically. the apparatusproposed heretoforehas presented difficulties due to reliance uponflowing streams of air and/or relatively uniform motion of members whichengage compacted fiber to be removed from a bale. Neither such air fiovvnor such regular movement (such as for example straight relativemovement be tween a bale and teeth such as on a chain or the like) iseffective to loosen fiber in thecompacted bale and remove the fiber fromthe bale while delivering ascertainably repeatable quantities as isimportant in blending of fibers. Particularly with linear relativemovement. the desired stripping action often fails due to accumulationof fibers on the teeth or tooth member which is intended to remove fiberfrom the bale.

Having in mind the difiiculties heretofore encountered in attempting tomechanize the removal of textile fiber from a compacted bale. it is anobject of the present invention to accomplish such removal whileloosening the fiber in preparation for further processing thereof. Inaccomplishing this object of the present in vention. fiber is not onlydelivered for subsequent processing, but a first step toward suchprocessing is accomplished during such removal and delivery.

Yet a further object of this invention is to avoid the difficulties anddeficiencies heretofore encountered in efforts to accomplish removal ofthe textile fiber from a compacted ball by use of mechanical means. Inaccomplishing this object of the present invention, a particularlydistinctive compound motion is imparted to the tines of a rake. Bymoving the tines relatively quickly along a closed pathof travelgenerally about 'a center of movement while at the same time moving therake relatively slowly in the same direction that the tines move,repeated strokes of. the tines relative to an adjacent bale of fiberloosen fiber in the bale. strip a layer of loosened fiber from the bale,and roll the stripped layer into a generally convolutcly wound package,all while avoiding accumulation of fiber on the tines of the rake.

Yet a further object of this invention is to facilitate the blendingoftcxtilc fiber from a plurality of bales. by coordinating delivery ofrelatively uniform weights of such fiber from a plurality of bales. Inaccomplishing this object of the present invention, a plurality of rakesare provided and arranged for cooperation one with another. Furthcr.bales from which fiber is loosened. stripped and rolled are movedrelative to thecorresponding rakes in increments of movement. As aresult. layers of fibers of generally known and uniform vveight areremoved and delivered from a plurality of bales in a particularsequence. By controlling materials of the corresponding bales, theresulting blends of fibers may be determined.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proeeeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof anarrangement in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bale supporting an rangement in theapparatus of FIG. 1;,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view, partly in section and partlyschematic, illustrating the compound motion of the ti es of a rake inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view, partly in section and partly schematic, ofa portion of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view taken generally along the line 66 inFIG. 4 and illustrating a portion of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section and partlyschematic, illustrating portions of the bale handling elements of theapparatus of FIGS. 1 and V along the line s s in FIG. 6; 1

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 on a reduced scale, illustrating oneportion ofa drive means for the tines of a rake in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating a second portion ofthe drive means for the tines of the rake in accordance of thisinvention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view, partly in section, taken gener ally along theline III1 in FIG. 7;

' FIG. 12 is an elevation view, partly, in section, taken generallyalong the line l212 in FIG. 11;

FIG. I3is an elevation view taken generally along the line 13 -13 inFIG. 5; y I

FIG. I4 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the structureillustrated in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagramof electrical wiring arrangements for theapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4-14.

The accompanying drawings and the description which follows and whichrefers to those drawings are intended to set forth the best mode.contemplatedfor broadly and are not to be taken as limitations upon thescope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, persons skilled in the art of manufacturingtextiles will be familiar to the packaging of textile fiber in compactedbales such as the bales B. As is known, it is conventional for fiberfrom such bales FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevation view taken generally ito be delivered into a hopper (indicated in phantom lines to the rightin FIG. 1) or the other means by which the fiber is delivered forsubsequent processing steps. Such subsequent processing steps, which mayinclude steps known as opening and/or picking. are well known to personsskilled in the textile arts. form no part of the present invention, andwill not be here described in detail. It is believed that an adequateunderstanding of these processes. if necessary, may be gained from priorpatents and publications relating to the textile field generally.

In accordance with the present invention, textile fiber is raked from acompacted bale B while being loosened in preparation for furtherprocessing in accordance with a method which includes the steps ofmoving the tines ofa rake with a compound motion and relative to thebale of fiber. The compound motion of the tines, as will be describedmore fully hereinafter. includes a relatively fast movement of the tinesin a closed path of travel generally about a center of movement, theclosed path having a lower reach in which the tines move in onedirection. At the same time, there is a relatively slow movement of therake in the one direction. As a result, raking across the face of thebale causes loosening, stripping and rolling of the fiber as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

The path of movement followed by the tines of the rake. in accordancewith this invention, is indicated generally in FIG. 3, where a range ofpositions of a tine is indicated in phantom lines. As will be noted, thetine 20 depends from a generally horizontal rake bar 21, which extendsacross the lower ends of two pivoting members 22, 24 (FIGS. 5, 13) whichform portions of a moving or drive means described hereinafter. As willbe noted, the points 25 describe a generally ovoid path (indicated byarrows in FIG. 3) about a center of movement generally indicated at 26.The generally ovoid path is such that the points 25 move along a lowerreach of the path in one particular direction (to the left in FIG. 3).At the same time, there is a relatively slow movement of the center ofmovement 26 in the same direction.

It is to be noted that the lower reach of the path of movement describedby the points 25 of the tines 20 includes a relatively horizontalportion (to the right in FIG. 3) and a portion which departs from therelatively horizontal plane so defined by withdrawing or moving awayfrom such a plane (as the tines move to the left in FIG. 3). Theimportance of this characteristic of the ovoid path will be pointed outhereinafter, when the particular cooperation of the tines with the layerof fiber in a bale B will be more particularly described. In accordancewith this invention. the rake means including the tines 20 is supportedby a frame means which assures a particular cooperative relationshipbetween the rake means and a bale B from which fiber is to be removed.The frame means, generally indicated in FIG. I at 30, includesstructural elements which define a generally upstanding housing havingcorner posts 31, 32, 33, 34. Extending between the corner posts arehorizontal support members 36, 37, 38, 39.

As is more clear from FIG. 4, the apparatus of this inventioncontemplates the use of a pair of rake means moving in coordination.However. for purposes of simplifying the present initial description.reference will be made only to that rake means 20, 21, 25 indicated inthe right portion of FIG. 4, in an attitude generally similar to thatillustrated in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10. The rake means is supported on acarriage subframe defined by side members 41, 42 and ends 43, 44 andforming a portion of the moving or driving means. The carriage subframeis moved relative to the horizontal support members 36, 37 on which thesubframe is mounted as will be described more fully hereinafter. Thecarriage subframe mounts a first drive motor 47, for impartingrelatively fast movement to the tines as described hereinabove. and asecond drive motor 48, for imparting relatively slow movement asmentioned hereinbefore. By means of appropriate drivinginterconnections, such as chains 49 and a cross shaft 50, the firstdrive rotates a pair of eccentric disks 54, 55.

A first eccentric disk 54 is connected, at a point spaced from itscenter of rotation about the drive shaft 50, with a driving link 56which is pivotally connected to a first pivoting member 58. The pivotingmember 58 constitutes a subframe formed by side members 59, 60,supported for pivotal movement relative to the carriage subframe about apivot shaft 61. As will be pointed out hereinafter, the pivotal movementof the member 58 about the axis defined by the shaft 51 imparts verticalmovement to the tines 20 of the rake means, thereby determining theextent of vertical displacement between the lower reach of the ovoidpath illustrated in FIG. 3 and the highest point thereof.

Mounted of the first pivoting member 58 for movement therewith about thepivot axis 61 are the members 22, 24 to which tines 20 are connected.The members 22, 24 function as second pivoting members, and move aboutan axis defined by a pivot shaft 62. The second pivoting members aredriven by a link which connects one member 24 with the other eccentricdisk (FIGS. 5 and 10).

By coordination of the relative rotational positions of interconnectionof the links 56, 64 with the respective eccentric disks 54, 55, theparticular path described by the points 25 of the tines 20 may bedetermined and may be optimized for the textile fiber being handled. Itis contemplated that the preferred form of path for handling cotton andpolyester fibers would be as indicated in FIG. 3.

Yet another factor involved in proper movement of the tines 20 of therake means is counter balancing of the various moving elements. which isaccomplished in the apparatus illustrated by the provision of a weightedcross member 65 extending between the side members 59, of theoscillating subframe which mounts the rake means.

Mounted atop the horizontal support members 36, 37 are chains 68, 69which are engaged by support sprockets 70, 71 72, 73. The supportspoekets are in turn mounted on support shafts 76. 77, by which thecarriage subframe is suspended from the horizontal members. In order tomove the rake means relatively slowly in one direction. the second drivemotor 48 is connected through suitable transmission means includingchains 80, 81 and a reducing gear 82 for driving one support shaft 76 inrotation. With such rotational driving of the support shaft 76, thecorresponding sprockets 70. 71 are displaced along the correspondingchains 68, 69 and the carriage subframe is slowly moved rela tive to theframe of the apparatus. During loosening, stripping and rolling of fiberas described more fully hereinafter. such motion is in the samedirection as the rriotion of the points of the tines 20 along the lowerreach of the path illustrated in FIG. 3.

While described to this point with reference to the movement of thetines of one rake with respect to one bale, it will be noted from FIGS.1, 4 and 5 that the present invention contemplates having first andsecond rake means mounted from the carriage for removing textile fibersfrom corresponding first and second bales. For ease of reference,corresponding elements of the second rake means and the drive meanstherefor have been identified by reference characters applied to theelements of the first rake means in the description above, with theaddition of prime notation. Thus, the tines 20' of the second rake meansare moved with a compound motion through the cooperation therewith oflinkage members 58, 24' and eccentric disks 54', 55'. In accordance withthe present invention, and as will be clear from the interconnection ofthe shafts 50, 50 by a drive chain 85, (FIG. 5), the compound movementof the first and second rakes are coordinated.

Further, the carriage from which the first and second rakes are mountedalternates in movement (from side to side in FIGS. 4 and 5). Thus, thefibers in a layer adjacent one face of one bale are loosened, strippedand rolled by engagement with the corresponding one of the rake meanswhile the fibers of the other bale are loosened in preparation forsubsequent stripping and rolling. This operation is made more clear inFIG. 4, where the second rake (to the left in FIG. 4) is shownloosening, stripping and rolling a layer of the fibers from thecorresponding bale while the first rake has delivered a convolutelywound layer of fiber L onto a hor izontal run of an endless conveyorbelt 86 interposed between the bales B.

The conveyor belt 86 is supported by the appropriate frame members 87,88 and has an uprising trough formed by spaced walls 90, 91 to aid inguiding rolled fiber layers onto the surface of the belt 86. The belt 86delivers the rolled layers L into a hopper or other suitable rcceivingmeans for a subsequent fiber processing apparatus.

In order to alternately deliver layers L of fiber from alternate bales,the carriage from which the first and second rakes are mounted is movedin alternate directions. Movement of the carriage is controlled inaccordance with the position of the rakes, so that carriage to aposition at which the first rake is beyond the corresponding first baleis sensed and the direction of the carriage is reversed in response tosuch sensed movement. In this manner, alternate loosening, stripping androlling of layers from the first and second bales is continued while thealternate rolled, stripped layers are delivered to the conveyor. It isnoted that the relatively quick movement of the tines in a closed pathof travel continues during relatively slow movement of the rake in thedirection opposite to the directions of the tines along the lower reachof the closed path. Such compound reverse movement may be employcd, incertain embodiments of this invention, to preloosen fiber in a layeradjacent the face of the bale.

In order to deliver layers ofgcnerally known and uniform weight, thisinvention contemplates further relative movement between the ral-tcs andthe bales from which fiber is to be removed. In particular, thisinvention contemplates periodic displacement of a bale toward acorresponding rake. In the particular embodiment illustrated. bales arelifted from a position underlying the rake. Further, the arrangement ofthis invention which accommodates such relative movement is constructedin such a manner as to facilitate loading of bales into the apparatus ofthis invention.

As will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2, bales B to be supplied to theapparatus in accordance with this invention are mounted upon baleplatform means generally indicated at 95, which in turn are receivedupon hand trucks generally at 96. The hand trucks 96 facilitate movementof the platforms and bales B by an operator tending the apparatus inaccordance with this invention.

Each bale platform means 95 is constructed for particular cooperationwith elevator means mounted adjacent the vertical frame members of theapparatus in accordance with this invention. Referring more particularlyto FIGS. 4, 6 through 8, 11 and 12, adjacent pairs of corner posts 31and 34, 32 and 33 are provided with lifting frame means defined byhorizontal and vertical members 100, 101, 102, and 103. The verticalmembers 102, 1.03 each have a pair of wheels which enter intocorresponding vertical corner channel members 31, 34. Preferably, thewheels are grooved and engage round'edfillets 106, 107 which are securedwithin the channel frame members to positively locate and guide thewheels '105. The vertical position of the lifting frame is determined bya lifting chain 110, which is moved by interconnection with anappropriate drive motor 111. The lifting chain 110 is given a loopedconfiguration, having a fixed upper end and passing about a sprocket 112at the upper horizontal member 101 of lifting frame. As lifting of theframe occurs. chain is delivered into a-storage bin 113 (FIGS. 6 and 8).Coupling ofa bale platform 95 to the lifting frame is accomplished by aside standard defined by vertical members 116, 117 and upper member 118.Each of the vertical members 116, 117 has a hanger bracket 120 adjacentthe upper end thereof, which is adapted to be slipped over and engage ahanger hook 121 on a corresponding vertical member 102, 103 ofa liftingframe. Further, a horizontal member 124 of the bale platform 95 isadapted to rest against the lower horizontal member 100 of the liftingframe when the hanger hook and hanger bracket are interengaged. Thus, anoperator loading bale B into the apparatus of this invention may use ahand truck 96 to position the bale platform 95 generally within theapparatus and may then roll the bale platform 95 into position forengagement with the corresponding lifting frame.

As with the rake means, the elements described hereinabove whichcooperate for recieving and displacing a bale from which fibers to beremoved are duplicated in the apparatus of this invention. In order toreduce the length of the present description, prime notation has beenadded to reference characters used hereinabove where structure has beenduplicated and such primed reference characters will be noted whereappropriate in the drawings.

The present invention provides an electrical control for coordinatingthe various movements described hereinabovc. Referring now moreparticularly to FIG. 15, one form of a control to accomplish the desiredfunctions for the apparatus and method of this invention has there beenillustrated and will now be described.

As indicated, the drive motors 47, 48 are mounted upon the reciprocatingcarriage described hereinabove from which the rake means are mounted.and the carriage is indicated by a dash line enclosure in FIG. 15.Inasmuch as the pivot drive motor 47 which moves the tines of the rakein relatively fast movement is driven constantly in the same directionof rotation, no special interconnection of that motor is required.However. as to the second drive motor 48, provision is made forreversing the direction of rotation of that motor upon sensed movementof the rake means beyond the corresponding bales. This is accomplishedby first and second direction control relays 140, 141. In the operatingcondition illustrated, the first direction controlling relay 140 isenergized, to close the associated contact sets 14011, 14012 and causemovement of the carriage in the direction indicated by the arrow (to theright in FIG.

Reversal of the direction of movement occurs through the operation ofthe reversing switch 144, moving with the carriage and arranged toengage appropriate actuating stop members at opposite extremes of themovement of the carriage. That is, upon movement of the carriage to theextreme position desired (such to the right in FIG. 15), an operatingrod of the reversing switch 144 engages a stop and is pushed toalternate position (to the left in FIG. 15), deenergizing the firstdirection control relay 140 and energizing the second direction controlrelay 141. As a result, the contact sets 141a, [4112 of the seconddirection control relay 141 are closed and the direction of rotation ofthe drive motor 48 is reversed. I

At the same time that the carriage moves to a position in which thestate of the reversing switch 144 is changed, the carriage engages oneof a pair of first and second elevator control switches 145, 146 whichare mounted on the frame. By way of example, movement of the carriage toan extreme position to the right in FIG. 15 closes the first elevatorcontrol switch 145, energizing a first elevator control relay 147. Thefirst elevator control relay 147 has associated therewith a timer(schematically illustrated in FIG. 15) which permits the contacts of therelay to be maintained in closed condition for a known interval of time.Closure of the contact set [47a of the relay applies electrical currentto a first elevator drive motor 11], resulting in raising thecorresponding bale platform 95. Thus, the bale from which a layer offiber has just been rolled is raised by an incremental distancedetermined from the time during which the contact set 147a of the relayare maintained closed and the rate at which rotation of the drive motor111 is transmitted into lifting movement.

A second elevator control relay 148 and contact set 148a are similarlyassociated with the second elevator control switch 146, to control theoperation of the ele' vator drive motor 111' at the opposite end of theapparatus.

In order to avoid the possibility of damage to the apparatus of thisinvention as a bale is depleted, a safety interrupt switch 150 isinterposed between the contacts 147a of the control relay and theelevator lift motor 111. The safety switch 150 is normally closed, andis provided with an actuating member 151 which responds to lifting ofthe bale platform 95 to an extreme upper position by opening the safetycontacts 150 and precluding automatic energization of the correspondingdrive motor 111. Manual control over the drive motor 11 1 isaccomplished by a manual control switch indicated at 154, which may bemanually operated to either raise or lower the corresponding elevatormeans.

In order to properly coordinate the delivery of textile fiber from theapparatus ofthis invention, it is desirable to have the electricalcontrol illustrated in FIG. 15 interconnected with an arrangement forsensing the ope rating condition of the next following process. By wayof example, where fiber is delivered by the apparatus of this inventionto a hopper, the hopper may include a sensing switch connected with adrive motor for the conveyor 86 and with the carriage and rake drivemotors 47, 48 so that removal and feeding of fiber is interrupted whenthe requirement of the next succeeding process has been temporarilysatisfied.

As used herein, the phrases compacted bale and bale refer to packagedtextile fiber generally. It is to be understood that the degree ofcompaction is not necessarily distinctive of the package here referredto as a bale and that this invention is contemplated as having wideusefulness in removing fiber from a number of types of packages.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. A method of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprisingthe steps of raking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer offibers of the bale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes andwhile stripping the layer from the bale and rolling the layer into aconvolutely wound package, and then repeating the steps of raking whileloosening while stripping until the bale is substantially depleted.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stop of stripping the layerfrom the bale includes delivering the layer for transport to asubsequent manufacturing process.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of repeating rakingwhile loosening while stripping includes intermittently moving the baletoward the face being raked for successive stripping therefrom ofrelatively uniform layers.

4. A method of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprisingthe steps of raking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer offibers of the bale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes andwhile stripping the layer from the bale and rolling the layer into aconvolutely wound package, delivering the layer for transport to asubsequent manufacturing process, and then repeating the steps of rakingwhile loosening while stripping and rolling and also intermittentlymoving the bale toward the face being raked for successive strippingtherefrom of relatively uniform layers until the bale is substantiallydepleted.

5. A method of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair ofcompacted bales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a commonplane with a face of the other bale comprising the steps of rakingacross the faces of the bales while loosening a layer of fibers at leastone of the bales with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and whilestripping a layer of fibers from one of the bales and rolling the layerinto a convolutely wound package. then repeating the steps of rakingwhile loosening and while stripping a layer of fibers from the other ofthe bales and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package. andthen repeating the 9 steps of raking while loosening while strippingfrom alternate bales until the bales are substantially depleted. 6. Amethod of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compactedbales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane witha face of the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the facesof the bales while loosening a layer of fibers of at least one of thebales with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while strippingthe losened layer of fibers from the one bale and rolling the strippedlayer into a eonvolutely wound package, delivering the rolled layer fromthe one bale for transport from a location between the two bales to asubsequent manufacturing process, then repeating the steps of rakingwhile loosening and while stripping a loosened layer of fibers from theother bale and rolling the stripped layer into a eonvolutely woundpackage, delivering the rolled layer from the bale for transport fromthe location between the two bales to a subsequent manufacturingprocess, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening whilestripping from alternate bales and also intermittently moving the balestoward the faces being raked for successive stripping from each of thebales of generally uniform weight layers until the bales aresubstantially depleted.

7. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted balecomprising: rake means having times for engaging fibers, frame means forsupporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale,

means for moving said rake means across the face 0 the bale, and

means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closedpath of travel while said rake means moves across the face of the balefor loosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosenedlayer from the bale.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving saidrake means comprises carriage means mounted on said frame means formovement relative thereto, said carriage means mounting said rake meansfor movement therewith between positions adjacent rcmote sides of theface of the bale. I

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for moving saidrake means further comprises means for sensing movement of said carriagemeans to a position at which said rake means is adjacent one side of abale and for responding to sensed movement of said carriage means tosuch a position by reversing the direction of movement of said carriagemeans and moving said carriage means towards a position at which saidrake means is adjacent to the other side of the bale.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving saidtines comprises linkage means for passing said tines along a generallyovoid path having a lower reach in which the tines move in one dircctionfor rolling the layer being stripped from the bale into a eonvolutelywound package.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said linkage means comprisesa first member mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis anda second pivotal member mounted for pivotal movement relative to saidfirst member about a second pivot axis spaced from said first pivot axisand mounting said rake means,

whereby pivotal movement of said first and second members causes saidtines to describe a generally ovoid path in which said lower reachwithdraws said tines from engagement with the face of the bale as thetines move in the direction that the layer is being rolled.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for movingthe bale toward the rake means for stripping therefrom of successive,generally uniform weight layers.

13. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising conveyor meansmounted adjacent said frame means for receiving fibers loosened andstripped from the bale and for transporting received fibers to asubsequent manufacturing apparatus.

14. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted balecomprising:

rake means having tines for engaging fibers, frame means for supportingsaid rake means adjacent a face of a bale,

means for moving said rake means across the face of the bale and betweenpositions adjacent remote sides of the face of the bale, means formoving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closed path oftravel while said rake means moves across the face of the bale from oneposition to one side of the face toward another position to the otherside of the face for loosening a layer of fibers of the bale andstripping the loosened layer from the bale while rolling the layertoward the other side and into a eonvolutely wound package, and a meansfor moving the bale toward the rake means for stripping therefrom ofsuccessive, generally uniform weight layers.

15. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a pair of compacted balescomprising:

first and second rake means each having tines for engaging fibers,

frame means for supporting said rake means with said first rake meansadjacent a face of a first bale and said second rake means adjacent aface of a second bale, the faces of the bales being spaced apart andlying generally in a common plane,

means for moving said rake means across corresponding faces ofcorresponding bales and between positions adjacent remote sides of thecorresponding faces,

means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes alongcorresponding closed paths of travel while said rake means move acrossthe faces of the bales for loosening corresponding layers of fibers ofthe bales and for stripping a loosened layer from one of the bales whilerolling the stripped layer toward the other bale and into a eonvolutelyWound package,

said means for moving said rake means and said means for moving saidtines cooperating for rolling stripped layers alternately from first onebale and then the other, and

means for moving the bales toward the rake means for stripping therefromsuccessive. generally uniform weight layers.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. I 3 90092 DATED August 26, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) Marcus G Whitehurst It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, Line 8, after "controlling" insert -the-; Column 2, Line 18,after"arrangement" insert --incorporated--; Column 2, Line 58, "best"should be --to be--; Column 3, Line 35, after "25" insert -of the tines20--; Column 3, Line 52, after "tines" insert --20--; Column 4, Line 34,after "link" insert --64-; Column 5, Line 46, after "that" insertmovement of the Column 5, Line 54, before "noted" insert --to be--;Column 7, Line 3, "pivot" should be -first-; Column 7, Line 25, before"alternate" insert an Column 8, Line 35, "stop" should be --step--;Column 8, Line 60, after "fibers" insert --of-; Column 9, Line 18, after"the" insert --other--; Column 9, Line 28, "times" should be tines-;Column 9, Line 52, delete "to" Signed and Sealed thlS sixteenth D3) 0fDecember 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParentsand Trademarks

1. A method of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprisingthe steps of raking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer offibers of the bale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes andwhile stripping the layer from the bale and rolling the layer into aconvolutely wound package, and then repeating the steps of raking whileloosening while stripping until the bale is substantially depleted.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1 wherein the stop of stripping the layer fromthe bale includes delivering the layer for transport to a subsequentmanufacturing process.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stepof repeating raking while loosening while stripping includesintermittently moving the bale toward the face being raked forsuccessive stripping therefrom of relatively uniform layers.
 4. A methodof removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising the steps ofraking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer of fibers of thebale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while strippingthe layer from the bale and rolling the layer into a convolutely woundpackage, delivering the layer for transport to a subsequentmanufacturing process, and then repeating the steps of raking whileloosening while stripping and rolling and also intermittently moving thebale toward the fAce being raked for successive stripping therefrom ofrelatively uniform layers until the bale is substantially depleted.
 5. Amethod of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compactedbales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane witha face of the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the facesof the bales while loosening a layer of fibers at least one of the baleswith repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping alayer of fibers from one of the bales and rolling the layer into aconvolutely wound package, then repeating the steps of raking whileloosening and while stripping a layer of fibers from the other of thebales and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package, and thenrepeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping fromalternate bales until the bales are substantially depleted.
 6. A methodof removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compacted balesdisposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane with a faceof the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the faces of thebales while loosening a layer of fibers of at least one of the baleswith repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping theloosened layer of fibers from the one bale and rolling the strippedlayer into a convolutely wound package, delivering the rolled layer fromthe one bale for transport from a location between the two bales to asubsequent manufacturing process, then repeating the steps of rakingwhile loosening and while stripping a loosened layer of fibers from theother bale and rolling the stripped layer into a convolutely woundpackage, delivering the rolled layer from the bale for transport fromthe location between the two bales to a subsequent manufacturingprocess, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening whilestripping from alternate bales and also intermittently moving the balestoward the faces being raked for successive stripping from each of thebales of generally uniform weight layers until the bales aresubstantially depleted.
 7. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from acompacted bale comprising: rake means having times for engaging fibers,frame means for supporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale,means for moving said rake means across the face of the bale, and meansfor moving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closed path oftravel while said rake means moves across the face of the bale forloosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosened layerfrom the bale.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means formoving said rake means comprises carriage means mounted on said framemeans for movement relative thereto, said carriage means mounting saidrake means for movement therewith between positions adjacent remotesides of the face of the bale.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 whereinsaid means for moving said rake means further comprises means forsensing movement of said carriage means to a position at which said rakemeans is adjacent one side of a bale and for responding to sensedmovement of said carriage means to such a position by reversing thedirection of movement of said carriage means and moving said carriagemeans towards a position at which said rake means is adjacent to theother side of the bale.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein saidmeans for moving said tines comprises linkage means for passing saidtines along a generally ovoid path having a lower reach in which thetines move in one direction for rolling the layer being stripped fromthe bale into a convolutely wound package.
 11. Apparatus according toclaim 10 wherein said linkage means comprises a first member mounted forpivotal movement about a first pivot axis and a second pivotal membermounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member about asecond pivot axis spaced from said first pivot axis and mounting saidrake means, whereby pivotAl movement of said first and second memberscauses said tines to describe a generally ovoid path in which said lowerreach withdraws said tines from engagement with the face of the bale asthe tines move in the direction that the layer is being rolled. 12.Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for moving thebale toward the rake means for stripping therefrom of successive,generally uniform weight layers.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 7further comprising conveyor means mounted adjacent said frame means forreceiving fibers loosened and stripped from the bale and fortransporting received fibers to a subsequent manufacturing apparatus.14. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted balecomprising: rake means having tines for engaging fibers, frame means forsupporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale, means for movingsaid rake means across the face of the bale and between positionsadjacent remote sides of the face of the bale, means for moving saidtines in repeated short strokes along a closed path of travel while saidrake means moves across the face of the bale from one position to oneside of the face toward another position to the other side of the facefor loosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosenedlayer from the bale while rolling the layer toward the other side andinto a convolutely wound package, and means for moving the bale towardthe rake means for stripping therefrom of successive, generally uniformweight layers.
 15. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a pair ofcompacted bales comprising: first and second rake means each havingtines for engaging fibers, frame means for supporting said rake meanswith said first rake means adjacent a face of a first bale and saidsecond rake means adjacent a face of a second bale, the faces of thebales being spaced apart and lying generally in a common plane, meansfor moving said rake means across corresponding faces of correspondingbales and between positions adjacent remote sides of the correspondingfaces, means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes alongcorresponding closed paths of travel while said rake means move acrossthe faces of the bales for loosening corresponding layers of fibers ofthe bales and for stripping a loosened layer from one of the bales whilerolling the stripped layer toward the other bale and into a convolutelywound package, said means for moving said rake means and said means formoving said tines cooperating for rolling stripped layers alternatelyfrom first one bale and then the other, and means for moving the balestoward the rake means for stripping therefrom successive, generallyuniform weight layers.